The Press Conference on the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and 9th Africa Engineering Conference took place at the Kampala Media Centre in Uganda on 6 August 2025.
This prestigious event is being organised by the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) in collaboration with UNESCO, the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), and the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO). Together, we unite under a shared vision — to harness the power of engineering to accelerate Africa’s transformation.
From left to right: the UIPE President Eng. Bosco Lepi, the FAEO President Eng. Refilwe Buthelezi and the AEW Steering Committee Chair Dr. Eng. Martin Manuhwa after signing the AEW Hosting Contract.
This year’s gathering is more than a conference — it is a movement of minds and machines, a platform where tradition meets transformation, and where Africa boldly asserts its engineering voice in a rapidly changing global landscape.
The conference is anchored on the theme: “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio–Economic Transformation”. This theme speaks to our collective mission — to move beyond rhetoric and focus on practical, scalable, and sustainable engineering solutions that will shape Africa’s future.
You can see below an excerpt of the address of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Monica Musonero Masanza.
“Esteemed Engineering Practitioners, Policy Makers, Innovators, and Members of the 4th Estate-the Press, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is with great honour and heartfelt warmth that I take time to brief you and indeed the rest of the World on the History and progress of the 11th Africa Engineering Week and the 9th Africa Engineering Conference, taking place in the beautiful and resilient city of Kampala, Uganda, from 14 to 20 September 2025“.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Monica Musonero Masanza addresses a joint press conference.
Reflecting on a Decade of Impact
As we approach the 11th edition of Africa Engineering Week (AEW), it is with great pride that we celebrate over a decade of engineering excellence, innovation, and transformative collaboration across the continent.
AEW was inaugurated in September 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the bold theme “Engineering is a Life Changer!” Since then, the event has grown into a vibrant platform, uniting engineers, governments, academia, youth, the private sector and development partners to align engineering with Africa’s growth aspirations.
AEW: A Journey Across Africa
Each AEW edition has focused on pressing developmental challenges as depicted below:
- 2014 – South Africa (Johannesburg): Engineering is a Life Changer! — Hosted by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) (inaugural event).
- 2015 – Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls): Engineering Innovation for Accelerated Infrastructure Development for Africa— hosted by the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ).
- 2016 – Nigeria (Akwa Ibom, Uyo State): Adequate, Reliable and Sustainable Energy in Africa — Hosted by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
- 2017 – Rwanda (Kigali): Effective Waste Management in Africa — Organised by the Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER).
- 2018 – Kenya (Mombasa): Harvesting Blue/Ocean Economy for Accelerated Economic Growth — Hosted by the Institution of Engineers Kenya (IEK).
- 2019 – Zambia: Addressing the SDGs through Sustainable Engineering — Hosted by the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ).
- 2021 – Ghana: Engineering, Inter African Trade and the Sustainable Development Goals — The hosting body was the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GHiE).
- 2022 – Ethiopia (Addis Ababa): Accelerating Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Africa Together — Hosted by the Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers (EACE).
- 2023 – South Africa (Pretoria): Celebrating & Growing Engineering Excellence in the African Region — Hosted by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
- 2024 – Angola (Luanda): Engineering the Future: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions for a Sustainable Africa and Swift AfCFTA Implementation — Hosted by the Order of Engineers of Angola (Ordem dos Engenheiros de Angola).
AEW is not just an event; it is a story — a continental movement — that began in 2014 and continues to grow in strength and influence.
The AEW Steering Committee Chair including Dr Eng Martin Manuhwa; the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Monica Musonero Masanza; the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, Eng. Refilwe Buthelezi and the President of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, Eng. Bosco Lepi in Kampala Uganda on 6 August 2025.
Looking Ahead: AEW 2025 in Uganda
The upcoming 11th Africa Engineering Week and 9th Africa Engineering Conference in Kampala, Uganda, will be held under the visionary call to action, built on the conviction that engineering is the key to unlocking Africa’s potential. Africa must leverage its population dividend, adopt artificial intelligence, embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and add value to its abundant natural resources. Without engineering, Africa cannot claim its rightful position as an economic giant in line with Agenda 2063.
Call to Action and AEW Vision
- Put engineering at the forefront of policymaking and development agendas across the continent.
- Promote local content in engineering value chains by building a pipeline of skills that support infrastructure and technological development.
- Infuse capacity building across Africa and particularly in Uganda, to accelerate development aspirations and foster innovation ecosystems.
- Use engineering to achieve the SDGs and Agenda 2063, advancing Africa’s place in global science and innovation.
My reflection on the AEW Vision is that: “Engineering is the key to unlock the great potential that Africa has in its population dividend and abundant natural resources. Without engineering, Africa will not achieve its aspirations espoused in the AU Agenda 2063, the SDGs and future Goals.”
Partnerships that Power Progress
Africa Engineering Week is jointly driven by:
- UNESCO
- The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO)
- The Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO)
- National engineering bodies and host governments
This trilateral partnership continues to inspire regional collaboration and global relevance in engineering ethics, education, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Our Commitment
As Chairman of the AEW Steering Committee and Past President of FAEO, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to using engineering as a tool of transformation — not just for building bridges and roads, but for building hope, resilience, and prosperity.
Let AEW 2025 in Uganda be the moment we declare: Africa will engineer the future it deserves.
Article by Dr. Eng. Martin Manuhwa
- Chairperson, Africa Engineering Week Steering Committee
- Deputy President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations
- Chair, WFEO Committee on Engineering Capacity Building (CECB)
- Past President, Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO)
For more information:
11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and 9th Africa Engineering Conference
AUG
2025